15 replies to this topic

[swmr545]

Should we the people be able to vote on Brown's tax extension proposal in June? Or is the GOP doing the right thing by trying to keep us from voting on it?

I think we should be given the opportunity for once instead of the legislature making the choices for us. I dont think it'll pass, and at that point the GOP can gain momentum at the negotiating table for more cuts by saying that we aren't willing to have higher taxes.

[Robert Giacometti]

I think we should give GOV Brown the opportunity to implement his plan. I don't understand how anyone can be disappointed over getting the opportunity to vote on something. I've always felt that the will of the majority should be defining the policies that govern us.

It will be interesting to see if a majority of the voters support Browns plan, after rejecting Arnies plan twice.

My sense is that whatever cuts Brown comes up with and his plan to extend higher taxes to balance the budget will be voted down, because more and more people realzie that this would only prolong the fundamental problems we have. I don't see any value in continuing to throw good tax dollars at a system that needs significant overhall and hope a majority agree with me.

IF ANY GOV, proposes to reduce the cost of delivering services to the public, reforms laws to reduce the costs of the laws impacts and truly aggressively tries to reduce wastes, then and only then I might be willing to support paying more in taxes for specific programs.

[Bill Z]

Should we the people be able to vote on Brown's tax extension proposal in June? Or is the GOP doing the right thing by trying to keep us from voting on it?

I think we should be given the opportunity for once instead of the legislature making the choices for us. I dont think it'll pass, and at that point the GOP can gain momentum at the negotiating table for more cuts by saying that we aren't willing to have higher taxes.

Well, brown did say in his campaign he wouldn't raise taxes without approval from the voters.
So, in that respect, if he's asking, I feel we should get to vote on it.

However, I think the GOP fear that the Democrat heavy state will go along with whatever Brown wants, so they may be trying to block it so it won't get passed by the voters, in which case, I feel they are doing the right thing.

[swmr545]

Well, brown did say in his campaign he wouldn't raise taxes without approval from the voters.
So, in that respect, if he's asking, I feel we should get to vote on it.

However, I think the GOP fear that the Democrat heavy state will go along with whatever Brown wants, so they may be trying to block it so it won't get passed by the voters, in which case, I feel they are doing the right thing.

I may be wrong, and if so correct me, but I don't think that the people of California has ever voted to increase taxes on everyone. We have done it to certain groups (Prop 63 targeted the rich, ciggerette taxes target smokers, etc). I don't think many will vote in favor, but we should be given the chance. If his plan fails, the GOP will have a better chance of getting more cuts.

[Bill Z]

I may be wrong, and if so correct me, but I don't think that the people of California has ever voted to increase taxes on everyone. We have done it to certain groups (Prop 63 targeted the rich, ciggerette taxes target smokers, etc). I don't think many will vote in favor, but we should be given the chance. If his plan fails, the GOP will have a better chance of getting more cuts.

I thought one of the transportation propositions was a statewide prop.
I know I see the signs in more than one county advertising around construction zones, your Prop ?? tax dollars at work.

[Al Waysrite]

Should we the people be able to vote on Brown's tax extension proposal in June? Or is the GOP doing the right thing by trying to keep us from voting on it?

I think we should be given the opportunity for once instead of the legislature making the choices for us. I dont think it'll pass, and at that point the GOP can gain momentum at the negotiating table for more cuts by saying that we aren't willing to have higher taxes.

A couple of years ago that gay marriage thing was put to a vote and you didn't much like letting the voters have their say then.

[folsom500]

One point to note that Tax Extensions (as per the title of this thread) are NOT technically tax increases. While the elimination of those current taxes would create a Tax Reduction, they do not increase current taxes...

AS far as the voters approving tax increases- it happens all the time - community, local and state -

[swmr545]

A couple of years ago that gay marriage thing was put to a vote and you didn't much like letting the voters have their say then.

When have I ever said voters shouldn't have voted on Prop 8? Please provide proof that I said that.

Voters can vote on whatever they want, but those votes are subject to judicial review to see if what was passed is constitutional.

[The Average Joe]

One point to note that Tax Extensions (as per the title of this thread) are NOT technically tax increases. While the elimination of those current taxes would create a Tax Reduction, they do not increase current taxes...

AS far as the voters approving tax increases- it happens all the time - community, local and state -

Well, we did not vote for the "largest state tax hike in history." That was done by the legislature to "get us through the tough times " and "balance the budget"... So in essence, we are reducing the reaming that the legislature imposed on us a few years ago...

[SacKen]

No. We already allow the populace to mess things up by voting with the initiative system. Our government is meant to be a representative one. We vote on the people we want to represent us, with the purpose being that we entrust those people to make the decisions for us.

Unfortunately, we continue to vote for the same incompetent boobs and have turned to Propositions as a workaround to override those we voted for. Which means we never should have voted for them in the first place. Which means... the majority of the general public is too stupid to be allowed to vote.

[The Average Joe]

LOL ...can't dispute that logic.

[Bill Z]

No. We already allow the populace to mess things up by voting with the initiative system. Our government is meant to be a representative one. We vote on the people we want to represent us, with the purpose being that we entrust those people to make the decisions for us.

Unfortunately, we continue to vote for the same incompetent boobs and have turned to Propositions as a workaround to override those we voted for. Which means we never should have voted for them in the first place. Which means... the majority of the general public is too stupid to be allowed to vote.

As well as a large percentage of politicians seem to be too stupid to hold the position they have.

I think maybe we need two new intelligence tests. One for politicians, if you can't pass it, you can't hold office. And another for voters, if you can't pass it, you are ineligible to vote.

[The Average Joe]

And this is how they will screw us...

A December survey conducted by Democrat Jim Moore found support for keeping those taxes on the books "to prevent deeper cuts in public schools, public safety and healthcare." Moore's poll found that 58% of respondents favored the idea of maintaining the taxes proposed by Brown this week; 37% said they were opposed to the idea.

Good god people...you don't need a degree in political science to translate what they are messaging. In a follow-up non-scientific poll conducted by the Average Joe, it was found that 58% of potential voters are absolute morons.

LATimes story

[Robert Giacometti]

And this is how they will screw us...

A December survey conducted by Democrat Jim Moore found support for keeping those taxes on the books "to prevent deeper cuts in public schools, public safety and healthcare." Moore's poll found that 58% of respondents favored the idea of maintaining the taxes proposed by Brown this week; 37% said they were opposed to the idea.

Good god people...you don't need a degree in political science to translate what they are messaging. In a follow-up non-scientific poll conducted by the Average Joe, it was found that 58% of potential voters are absolute morons.

LATimes story

Its not unusual for support for raising taxes for an ideal to intially start off with higher support numbers. Given the challengers we in California are facing and the projected lagging economic turnaround, I'll be surprised if this passes with this number.

I suspect there will be some organized opposition raising questions and this probably will persuade some to NOT vote for this.

Did you see the other Day in the SAC Bee, they were pointing out that some of Browns cuts weren't really cuts at all, but shifting of funds? I don't think most people are going to be willing to continue to pay higher taxes, when they are being misled.

[SacKen]

... it was found that 58% of potential voters are absolute morons. ...

Nah, they just realize that they are in the category of people who don't pay as much in taxes and, therefore, won't be affected as much. As I stated before, people will vote "yes" if they get something (better education, health care, and public safety) and someone else pays for it (the other 42% that pay 90%+ of the taxes).